Whitmer Admin’s Proposed Battery Plant Handout Would Send Millions To Railway Company At Center Of Ohio Derailment Disaster

Incoming Republican legislators Michigan have sounded the alarm on a massive Ford battery plant proposal – backed by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer – that would send $15 million to Norfolk Southern, the Railroad company The train derailment in East Palestine and the chemical burn in East Palestine, Ohio were at its center. 

Lansing legislators will be asked to Allot An additional $750million for the proposed Ford battery plant in Great Lakes State. This state has already received over $1 billion in tax cuts and incentives. Republican state Rep. James DeSana said that the new proposal could generate $15 million. “could be earmarked to help the troubled Norfolk Southern Railway Company expand its footprint in Michigan,” The Midwesterner reported. 

“It’s always a bad idea to expect taxpayers to foot the bill for corporate welfare projects – but this proposal is particularly egregious,” DeSana stated in a Statement. “Norfolk Southern has had two dangerous train derailments in the Midwest this month – one in Michigan and another that leaked hazardous chemicals that are still causing serious concerns for families in Ohio. Yet Gov. Whitmer is asking us to ignore all that and hand over taxpayer dollars to help Norfolk Southern grow in Michigan.”

Whitmer advocated for an electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan to create more jobs. However, the proposal was controversial before because Ford is. Partnering With a Chinese company for the plant. The request for an additional $750million, including the $15M earmark for Norfolk Southern needs to be approved by the state’s Democrat controlled legislature. 

The $15 million Norfolk Southern would pay would reportedly go toward rail improvements. Whitmer’s office didn’t respond to Daily Wire’s request for comment. 

In recent weeks, controversy rocked the $51billion Atlanta-based railway company. Norfolk Southern was forced to apologise for the East Palestine derailment. “controlled burn” To reduce the chance of an explosion, use the volatile chemical vinyl chloride.

Residents of eastern Ohio soon after the controlled burning were able to return home Description physical symptoms they believe resulted from the fire, including headaches, sore throats, and digestive issues — not to mention the lingering taste of chemicals, The Daily Wire reported.

Another train was booked by another company following the Ohio derailment of February 3. Derailment It was just outside Detroit on February 16, but no hazardous material was onboard any of those cars. 

The railway company took full responsibility for the disaster. They pledged to clean up East Palestine and to hire experts to test the quality and quantity of the air and water. But that is not enough for some Michigan Republicans. 

“Until a full investigation of the Norfolk Southern derailments in Ohio and Michigan is complete, I can’t believe we’re even discussing appropriating $15,000,000 to expand their operations in Michigan,” The Midwesterner spoke with Andrew Fink (R), state Rep.

Brandon Drey contributed this report.

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